Who Should Attend

Those responsible for management, marketing, accounting, and strategic planning in emerging companies

Business advisors

About the Speakers and Sirti

John Overby is a serial entrepreneur and joined Sirti with extensive experience in private and public roles with technology companies. John is currently Director of Client Services at Sirti in Spokane. He was a co-founder and Director of Business Development of Spokane-based World Wide Packets. John also co-founded and served nine years as CEO and Director of Advanced Hardware Architectures (now Comtech AHA), a SIRTI alumnus located in Moscow, Idaho. He also founded Advanced Input Systems in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (now a division of Esterline) where he held the positions of CEO and Director for nine years. John helped create two back-to-back Inc. 500 companies: AIS at No. 13 and AHA at No. 104. John also served as Director of Marketing at Keytronic, one of the oldest technology companies in the Spokane area. Before joining Sirti, John served as Regional Director of the North Idaho College Small Business Development Center for the five northern Idaho counties. John is a native of North Idaho and received his BSEE degree from the University of Idaho. He lives in Liberty Lake and enjoys collecting fine art.

Mike Urso is Sr. Principal Consultant for Sirti. With over 15 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies, Mike has a broad range of marketing, product development, and new business development experience. Prior to joining Sirti, Mike was the vice president of marketing for Potlatch Corporation and the Global New Business Development Manager and Global Composite Materials Project Manager for The Dow Chemical Company. With a proven track record of delivering outstanding results, Mike is particularly adept at analyzing situations as well as developing and implementing strategic action plans.

SIRTI is a Washington State economic development agency focused on accelerating the development and growth of innovative technology companies in Eastern Washington. Their target clients are technology companies with defensible intellectual property, large market potential, and founders who show a strong desire to grow their business. Sirti comprises seasoned entrepreneurs and technology veterans who provide expertise in technology assessment, market research, strategic planning, marketing, finance, and management for both start-ups and high-growth businesses. Additionally, Sirti has a $3 million Technology Growth Fund that is available to qualified technology companies.